~Siren of the Stars~
by Strawberry Moon Rose

I'm horribly slow at updating this story, aren't I? Gomenasai! Yurushite kudasai! m(_ _)m

And I'm lovin' the reviews. Keep 'em coming! :D

Enjoy :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or any of the characters. They belong to Naoko Takeuchi.

Thus, our search for Princess Kakyuu begins. Let me start off by saying how difficult it turns out being.

First, I don't know much about Seiya's princess, so all I can do is tag along after her like a puppy and keep my eyes peeled for any clues.

Second, the beach is humongous. If Kakyuu washed up during the aftermath of the storm, she could be anywhere along the miles and miles of shore. But if she used her powers to transform into a human like Seiya had, she could have walked anywhere in the country. That possibility seems unlikely though, for a couple of reasons. Where would she have gotten clothes, and where would she go to? Heading anywhere but back to Kinmoku is fruitless, especially when there's a whole world waiting for her return and three anxious guardians searching for her.

So that brings us back to square one; where is the Princess?

It's like we're putting together a jigsaw puzzle, but have never seen the picture on the front of the box. It's beyond frustrating.

Seiya and I start in the direction of the boardwalk, but Seiya claims that she can't detect Kakyuu's scent at all, so we know we're getting colder. We turn around and head the other way, back to the beach house. Strangely enough, that's the area where her scent is the strongest.

We walk in a heavy silence along the shore. So far no luck.

"Damn it!" Seiya angrily runs a hand through her hair. She drops to the sand and hugs her knees to her chest, staring bitterly out at the ocean. I gingerly sit beside her, not sure what to say. I know we're both thinking the worse; that something horrible has happened to her.

"It's like I'm being teased," Seiya says in a cracking voice. "Night after night, I sing and sing and continue to sing. Why hasn't my message reached her? Why hasn't she appeared? Why?"

I wish there is something I can do or say to make her feel better. But unless I can magically materialize the Princess before us, I know nothing is going to cheer her up. But that doesn't mean I won't try.

"I'm sure she's okay, Seiya. She has to be," I tell her gently. "There must be a reason she's not coming out. Don't give up yet."

Seiya remains quiet. She presses her fingers to the bridge of her nose like she's massaging away a headache. The search for her princess has gone on long before she met me. My heart goes out for her.

"We've just gotta keep looking. We'll find her, I know it." I touch her shoulder sympathetically without even realizing it. I start to draw away, but stop. Seiya needs all the comfort she can get right now. Even though most of the time she's a big-headed know-it-all who gets on my nerves, she's really torn up over this.

She looks over at me, a small smile curving on her mouth. "You know what, Odango? When you say it, I actually start to believe it."

"I'm glad."

Seiya continues to look at me, almost longingly. I try to break our gaze, but it's like there's a magnetic force holding me in place. I stop resisting and let myself get swept away in the blueness of those eyes.

Swwwish. The ocean whispers around us. I'm suddenly conscious of how close we're sitting. Her leg touches my leg. My hand still lingers on her shoulder. Seiya notices too and turns towards me. Suddenly our faces are a lot closer.

"Odango..." Her voice is like melting honey.

"Y-Yeah?"

But Seiya doesn't say another word. She leans in, like she's going to whisper something into my ear. But I know that's not the case. Her vanilla fragrance makes me feel faint. The closer she gets, the more enchanting it becomes, clouding my thoughts in a smoky haze. One of her hands reaches up to my face...

Oh, gosh. No, this can't be happening... I can't. I shouldn't! My sweet love, Mamo-chan...!

Thumpity-thump. Thumpity-thump. My heart splutters hyperactively. Alarms blare in my head. This isn't good. I-I can't speak! I can't move! Why does Seiya have this effect on me? I must do something, but... But...!

"Odango...? You okay?"

"H-Huh?" One second passes. Then another. I slowly peek one eye open.

Seiya blinks at me. "What's wrong?" she asks. Her features are twisted in confusion.

"N-Nothing!" I sputter.

Seiya raises an eyebrow. Her hand comes up towards my face again. I squeak in response and shrink away.

"Whoa, why so jumpy?"

I press my lips together, too flustered to articulate a response. Thumpity-thump. Thumpity-thump. The silence drags on.

"You're so strange," Seiya chuckles. "Well, just so you know, there's a leaf in your hair. I was trying to brush it out when you went all squirrely on me. Want me to get it or are you planning on wearing it all day?"

"W-What?" I say stupidly. I touch my head. Sure enough, there's something crunchy tangled near one of my odangos. It must have fallen in while we were walking under the trees along the boardwalk.

"Oh..." I say flatly, the realization hitting me like a brick. A unidentifiable feeling tumbles through me like a wave. Relief, mixed with disappointment, perhaps. I bite my tongue at my own idiocy. Of course Seiya wasn't trying to kiss me. She doesn't even like me like that. Geez, am I paranoid or what?

Seiya smiles crookedly. "What are you thinking?" she muses, tilting her head to the side in fascination.

"Nothing," I mutter and rake my fingers through my hair, combing out the leaf. Of course it has to crumble, leaving tiny shreds stuck in my golden bangs.

She reaches over and brushes the flakes away swiftly, smiling the whole time.

"Thanks," I mutter, eyes to the ground.

"No problem..."

A breeze whistles by, disheveling our hair into a mixture of blonde and midnight blue around us. I run my hands through the sand nervously, letting the grains sift through the cracks in my fingers.

It's sad to think that in less than a month we'll all be saying goodbye to the beach and sunshine and hello to school and routines. I decide that I'm going to make the most out of this summer while it lasts, no matter what.

But already the thought of saying goodbye to Seiya makes my heart twinge. I never want summer to end; especially this one.

"Heyyy! Usagi-chan!" A fruity voice shakes me from my thoughts.

I turn around to find Makoto waving at me. She looks stunning in a green athletic swimsuit. It shows off her muscular calves and full bosom.

Tagging along behind her is Ami, in a blue and white striped one piece with a book tucked under her arm, and Rei, in a fire engine red string bikini, struggling to carry a stack of towels, magazines, a picnic basket, and other beach necessities like a camel.

"Everyone!" I scramble to my feet.

"We were just lookin' for you, Usagi-chan..." Makoto shifts her weight. Green eyes gloss over Seiya with mild curiosity.

"We started to get worried," Ami put in, brushing a blue strand of hair from her eyes. "You and Minako-chan hadn't returned from the shop, so..."

A giant sweatdrop trickles down my head. "Sorry, sorry! We got sidetracked," I explain.

Rei snorts. "I'll say," she mutters, loud enough it was meant to be heard.

I stick my tongue out in her direction. She rolls her eyes and hugs all the gear tighter. "You know, you could gimme a hand, Usagi," she says in a grating tone. "I shouldn't have to carry all this crap around, especially when most of it's yours."

"That's not all mine! You're just picking on me again, Rei-chan."

"Ha! You're delusional."

"Yeah, well you're a meanie!" I shoot back.

"Hey, hey." Seiya steps between us, laughing. Clearly she enjoys the cat fight. "Let's all get along, alright? Besides, Odango, you haven't introduced me to your friends yet. Why don't you start?"

"Fine," I huff. "Everyone, this is Seiya Kou. We met a few days ago here on the beach, and for some reason I'm still putting up with her."

Seiya ignores the last part and flashes a confident grin at the girls. "Nice to meet you guys," she says.

"Seiya, this is Mizuno Ami-chan." I give a warm smile and a shoulder squeeze to my shortest friend. "She's super smart and really nice."

Ami flushes at my words. She nods politely at the Starlight. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Seiya-san," she tells her shyly.

"And this here's Kino Makoto-chan, Mako-chan for short. She's tough, but really sweet, and cooks the best food you'll ever taste." I gesture to my tallest friend who smiles brightly in return. I move along to Rei. "And she's Hino Rei-chan, a physic girl with a bit of a temper..."

"Who has a temper?" Rei sneers, as if she misheard.

"You! You do, Rei-chan."

"Okay, okay," Makoto intervenes quickly. She points to the basket Rei's carrying, desperate to get our minds on something else. "Anyone up for my homemade chocolate chip muffins?"

"Muffins?" My eyes enlarge. I'm pretty sure there's drool hanging out of my mouth, too.

Makoto laughs, her chocolate-colored curls bouncing in her ponytail as her shoulders shake. "C'mon, let's settle down here for a while," she suggests.

She and Rei start laying out the beach towels in the hot sand. As Ami gets comfortable under a sun umbrella with her novel, I head straight to the big picnic basket and rummage through like a bandit till I find Makoto's muffins, sealed in a container. I plop the lid off eagerly.

A shadow moves in on my left. Seiya sits right beside me, close enough to make me uncomfortable, and helps herself to one of the muffins. I scowl at her.

"What?" she asks innocently, peeling off the wrapper. "You weren't planning on eating 'em all yourself, were you?"

"As a matter of fact, I was." I take one and chomp a big bite out of it. It's moist and fluffy, and the sweet, gooey chocolate chips taste scrumptious. It's like I'm holding a little piece of heaven in my hand. I hope that someday I can be as good a cook as Mako-chan. Or at least be able to make something without burning it.

I chew for a while in silence before I realize we are a couple people short of our usual gang. "So where're Haruka-san and Michiru-san?" I ask between bites.

"Already down at their friend's house, helping set up for the party," Makoto answers. She reties her ponytail, her biceps looking flexed. "Haruka-san said earlier that they were helping out with some of the food. They'll be back around six to take us down there."

"Oh." My shoulders sag. I was hoping to ask them permission to bring Seiya along tonight. But Michiru did say we could bring anyone we like, so I guess it'll probably be fine. As long as Seiya doesn't open her big mouth and keeps her hands to herself, that is.

Okay, so maybe I'm doomed.

"Hey, did Odango tell you guys? She's bringing me along as her date," Seiya suddenly announces, echoing my thoughts.

I nearly choke on my muffin; it goes down the wrong pipe. Ami has to reach over and pat my back till I calm down.

"Date?" Rei's eyebrows shoot up. Her violet eyes narrow and sweep over the both of us, back and forth, like she's watching a tennis match. I don't have to be psychic like her to know she's wondering what Mamo-chan would have to say about that.

"No!" I protest quickly. But I can already feel my face growing hot. "S-She's just a friend tagging along, that's all!"

"I think it's nice of you to invite someone, Usagi-chan," Ami volunteers. "Very considerate."

"Yeah, well, she invited herself," I mutter under my breath.

I glare icily over at Seiya, wanting to give her a good shove for saying that. I'm surprised at myself. Usually I'm a nonviolent person. But when it comes to Seiya...well, that's another story.

"So," says Rei, clearing her throat. She stares Seiya down with fishy eyes. "Are you on vacay or something in this area?"

"Actually, I live nearby," Seiya replies honestly. She exchanges a secret glance with me. I'm still angry at her, but a smile tugs on my lips without permission, and I have to hide it behind my muffin.

"Oh, really?" Rei says in a way that suggests she doesn't believe her.

"Yup."

"Do you know the people who own that beach house over here?" Rei nods to the three story mansion positioned at the top of the cliff that builds up behind us. "It belongs to a friend of ours."

"Nope. Pretty house, though."

"I see..." To anyone else, it may seem like Rei is being friendly and making small talk, but I know she's suspicious and is probing for information. I don't blame her after what happened this morning, she nearly discovered Seiya hiding in my bathroom.

And it is rather odd; I said I met Seiya at the beach, but they've all been with me this whole time and never saw me with her until now. Believable? No. There's more holes in my story than swiss cheese. I've never been a good liar either, unless it's for something big, like hiding the fact I'm Sailor Moon.

But I think the red flags rose in Rei's mind when Seiya claimed herself to be my date for tonight. Ever since she handed Mamo-chan over to me years ago without a fight, she's made sure he and I stuck together, and that I don't run off with someone else, because I have the tendency of getting swept away easily by members of both genders. To think she has to keep her eye on me in fear I'll run off with someone like Seiya is horribly embarrassing.

As if reading my thoughts, Rei's aubergine eyes bore into my own. 'I'm onto you' they say.

I smile innocently and return my focus to my muffin.

Just then, a familiar blonde with a signature red bow flounces into sight. She wordlessly floats along, fluttering to the ground beside Rei. She hugs her midsection and breathes a dreamy sigh.

"Minako-chan!" I greet her in surprise.

"Hey, look who it is!" says Makoto.

"Where've you been?" Rei accuses.

"Oh, only with the most handsomest, nicest, sweetest guy in the whole world," Minako gushes. Another sentimental sigh.

"Kairi-onii-san? You really went out with him?" Rei sounds jealous.

Minako nods vehemently as if she can't believe it either.

"Ne, ne, how was the ice cream?" I ask giddily, elbowing her rib.

"Delicious," she giggles.

"Do tell!" Makoto says, scooting in.

Minako twirls a lock of hair around her finger. "Well, first we walked along the boardwalk, then he took me to the cutest little ice cream shop and pulled the chair out for me, and then..."

"Well, this sounds like a conversation I can skip." Seiya lays back, stretching her arms behind her head, not the slightest bit interested in the frivolous gossip. She pulls her shades down over her eyes, basking in the afternoon sunlight.

Ami turns a page in her book. "Yes, I have to agree with you there," she chuckles softly.

The rest of the afternoon passes by much too quickly. We spend it the usual way; playing Frisbee, reading magazines, writing our names in the sand, and looking for seashells. It's a lot of fun, especially with Seiya there. She fits right in and I can tell everyone likes her too.

Before we know it, the sun is dipped low in the sky and the air is cooling off to a much more comfortable temperature. Most of the families out during the day packed up and left, making room for clusters of teenagers to move in for late night get-togethers, like the one we're heading to.

We collect all our stuff and start back to the beach house. Minako practically skips the whole way, bouncing on her heels like she has springs in her shoes.

"I cannot wait for this party!" she crows. "Kairi-onii-san is gonna be there, did I mention that? He knows a friend who's buddies with the people throwing it. Can you guys believe it? Is this exciting or what?" She says it all in one breath.

"Totally exciting, Minako-chan!" I squeeze her arm. "I'm glad things are working out for you."

"Yeah, me too!"

The white mansion comes into view and we enter through the gate and parade up the porch. We all pile into the house, carefully removing our dirt-crusted sandals, and make our way up to our rooms to get ready for tonight's party.

Haruka and Michiru haven't returned yet, I notice. We have less than an hour to wash the sand out of our wind-blown hair and trade our sweaty swim cover-ups and shorts for something more suited for a daring night out.

I guess I've always been a good kid for the most part (granted I do get pretty lousy grades and sometimes steal from Chibi-Usa's candy stash hidden under her bed), but I stay out of trouble for the most part. I'm not as pure as Ami, but not as wild as Minako; somewhere in between. So doing something exciting every once in a while has got me pretty psyched. At a place far from home with all my friends, going to a party of someone we don't even know, who knows what could happen?

I end up making Seiya get ready in one of the spare guest rooms at the end of the hall. I need my privacy and sharing my bathroom with her would be a royal disaster. Plus, we didn't have all the time in the world to take turns using one shower.

"We could always shower together," Seiya said with a crooked smile. "Save water, you know?"

I blushed furiously and gave her shoulder a good slap before shooing her out of my room. What nerve!

Now I stand before the mirror, gazing at my reflection and blow-drying my damp golden hair. It's a task that always takes forever. My hair is thick and long, curling at the ends which reach past my knees. It's never been cut before in my entire life. That's why I wear it up in odangos, to keep it out of my face.

"Hmm hmm hmm," I hum my favorite song, "Moonlight Densetsu", as I brush out the tangles in my glossy locks. I set the brush down on the counter and critique my reflection staring back at me. I smile for good measure.

Mascara? Check. Blush? Check. Lip gloss? I swipe a tube of peach-flavored gloss across my lips. Check.

After I twist my hair up into my trademark style, securing the buns with bobby pins, I smooth out the wrinkles in my orchid pink sundress and give a little twirl, a tiny giggle escaping my smiling lips.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

I straighten up quickly. It must be Seiya!

I skip anxiously out of the bathroom and across the bedroom. I pause with my hand on the doorknob. My heart thuds, stutters, and then picks up again in double time. What'll she think of me in this super cute dress? I bet her lips will fall apart in slow motion and she'll positively stare, speechless!

Giggling at the thought, I fling the door open and am immediately hit by a wall of aromatic perfume. Not the sweet, coconut and vanilla scent Seiya usually smells of, but rather a spicy, nose-tingling, erotic fragrance that belongs distinctively to only one person I know.

The dirty-blonde coolly leans against the door frame, hands in the pockets of her skin-tight jeans.

"Hey there, Koneko-chan," Haruka purrs in her deep, sultry voice. "You ready yet?"